Erasmus+ youth exchange “Embrace Inclusion” took place in Msida, Malta on 31st March– 8th of April, 2023. The mobility gathered 48 participants coming from Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Turkiye, Netherlands & Bulgaria. The goal the main aim was to tackle disablism & increase youngsters’ ability to address the needs of the disadvantaged through the positive interactions of people with mixed-abilities.
INSPIRATION OF THE PROJECT
Imagine: you stand at the metro station in a foreign city, figuring out metro routes on the map when a stranger takes your hand & pushes you in a certain direction & start using baby-talk in a conversation. Unfortunately, according to European Human Rights Report, 2019 by European Disability Forum (EDF) & conducted needs research, this is often the daily experiences of youth with sensory disabilities (e.g. blindness, hearing loss, etc.).
Michigan University study (2019) revealed that people who were in contact with individuals with disabilities showed lower
im- & explicit prejudice. According to one of the scientists, close contact between people with & without disabilities creates a
“chance to develop positive associations with the group & see them in a different light.”
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES
SLOGANS ABOUT INCLUSION
DISSEMINATION
PROJECT’S IMPACT
Participants learned about disablism and how to challenge implicit disability beliefs. Youth with disabilities gained more self-confidence, expanded their social circles, and formed equal relationships as a result of positive peer-to-peer interactions. Those who do not have disabilities learned about the person behind the disability and gained a better understanding of the various types of disabilities.
PROJECT’S SCHEDULE, ACTIVITIES AND MATERIAL